Bacterial meningitis other imaging findings

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aysha Anwar, M.B.B.S [2]

Overview

There are no other specific imaging findings which may help to diagnose bacterial meningitis. However, plain radiograph of skull in patients with a known history of trauma may give a clue about the source of infection. Chest radiograph may be used to look for signs of strept pneumoniae or tuberculosis.^[1] Cranial sonogram may be used to diagnose complications of bacterial meningitis in infants.^[2]

Other imaging findings

There are no other specific imaging findings which may help to diagnose bacterial meningitis. However, following imaging modalities may provide a clue about tthe cause and complications of bacterial meningitis:

Plain radiograph

Plain radiograph of skull in patients with a known history of trauma may give a clue about the source of infection.

Chest radiograph

Chest radiograph may be used to look for signs of strept pneumoniae or tuberculosis.^[1]

Ultrasound

Cranial sonograms may help diagnose complications in infants with bacterial meningitis. Complications which may be diagnosed with cranial sonogram include obstructive hydrocephalus, ventriculitis, echogenic sulci, subdural effusions, abscess and ventriculomegaly.^[2]

Angiography

Arterial angiography may be used to diagnose complications of bacterial meningitis such as dural venous thrombosis in cases where MR angiography is either not available or contraindicated.^[3]

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Chin JH (2014). “Tuberculous meningitis: Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges”. Neurol Clin Pract. 4 (3): 199–205. doi:10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000023. PMC 4121465. PMID 25110618.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Yikilmaz A, Taylor GA (2008). “Sonographic findings in bacterial meningitis in neonates and young infants”. Pediatr Radiol. 38 (2): 129–37. doi:10.1007/s00247-007-0538-6. PMC 2292499. PMID 17611750.
↑ Alvis-Miranda HR, Milena Castellar-Leones S, Alcala-Cerra G, Rafael Moscote-Salazar L (2013). “Cerebral sinus venous thrombosis”. J Neurosci Rural Pract. 4 (4): 427–38. doi:10.4103/0976-3147.120236. PMC 3858762. PMID 24347950.

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[pmid25110618-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Chin JH (2014). “Tuberculous meningitis: Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges”. Neurol Clin Pract. 4 (3): 199–205. doi:10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000023. PMC 4121465. PMID 25110618.

[pmid17611750-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Yikilmaz A, Taylor GA (2008). “Sonographic findings in bacterial meningitis in neonates and young infants”. Pediatr Radiol. 38 (2): 129–37. doi:10.1007/s00247-007-0538-6. PMC 2292499. PMID 17611750.

[pmid24347950-3] Alvis-Miranda HR, Milena Castellar-Leones S, Alcala-Cerra G, Rafael Moscote-Salazar L (2013). “Cerebral sinus venous thrombosis”. J Neurosci Rural Pract. 4 (4): 427–38. doi:10.4103/0976-3147.120236. PMC 3858762. PMID 24347950.

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